Two-thirds of workers say they must leave to move up

Two-thirds of workers surveyed by SHL, a talent assessment and acquisition company, said they feel they will have to leave their current employer to advance their career, despite wanting to stay. HR Dive senior editor Kathryn Moody covered the results on October 20: Employees say they have to leave their companies to advance their careers.

What the survey found#

• SHL surveyed more than 2,000 employed adults across the U.S. and U.K.
• Most respondents said they would retrain to reach a more senior role, or a different role altogether.
• Nearly 9 in 10 said they would sit through a formal skills assessment to show their employer what they can do.
• Only 42% said their managers fully understood their skills beyond their current role.
• 59% of U.S. workers said their employer favors outside candidates over internal development.
• Workers also said managers may be reluctant to lose skilled direct reports, which can be another barrier to moving internally.

"The striking thing about this research is how willing people are to prove what they can do," Lucy Beaumont, global senior vice president of product and design at SHL, said in a statement, adding that organizations "continue to invest time and money searching the external market for individuals with skills and experience that they may already have."

Why it matters#

The build or buy question is an old one in hiring. What stands out here is that the people being passed over say they are ready to show their work. The barrier is visibility: if one manager is the only person who sees what you can do, your next step depends on that one view.

HR Dive also notes that in a market with less turnover and less hiring, HR teams are turning to internal mobility, but many companies lack the systems to know which skills they already have.

What teams can do this week#

• Before opening an outside search, ask who on the team could already do the role.
• Give people a way to show skills beyond their current job, and look at the results.
• Make sure moving someone up is not quietly blocked by the manager who would lose them.

What independent and fractional workers can take from it#

If your growth depends on being seen, make the proof easy to find: the projects you shipped, the results, and the people who can vouch for you. A wider network of people who know your work means more than one person decides where you go next.

Talk about it live#

The Rocket Town Hall on the future of jobs is this Friday, October 23, 9 to 10am ET, hosted by Nick Petros with Kiryl Rudy (Andersen Lab), Brianni Walker (Assist Me VA) and Troy Wyatt (D8TAOPS). Sign in to Rocket so you are ready.